Monday, December 08, 2003

Conscience Not Good Enough lah!

I was told today that conscience isn't good enough in this world. That is really frightening...

I beg to differ, it is precisely an intact conscience that dictates a man's conduct, behaviour and his motive that directs his steps. Was kind of disturbing to hear that having a clear conscience isn't good enough to vindicate a man. It is scary as I had the understanding that conscience is what God imparts to each of us in the same measure, no one is given more or less, it is either yours is still intact or yours is seared or corrupted. Granted there are people who profess that their conscience is clear when in actual fact is not, we should not draw the conclusion that conscience is not relevant. Much of the problems we have here in this country are due in part to the fact that many people do not have the courage to act in response to their conscience.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke

No man can change that part of him as it is God given and in the stillness of the night when a man is all by himself his conscience will return to check him, to examine him. Not that conscience has left him but if there are too many distractions, 'noise' around him then he would have difficulty hearing that inner voice... his own inner voice. A day will come when he has to answer his maker for his deeds and by then I believe his own conscience will speak loudly and judge and convict him. I pray that I would spend more time in quiet contemplation each day that I may tune myself to be sensitive to that small still voice and hear clearly. I badly need the fear of God. I am afraid that I may end up at the wrong place for all eternity.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28

Talking about this reminded me of the money changer who was delivering cold hard cash to his clients, he announced his time of arrival and when he was asked if he feared what man would do to him with all the cash he is carrying.. he answered spontaneously that he really has no reasons to be fearful, he says that since he has done so much in his life that does not reflect the fear of God, why should he bother to be afraid of man? He has observed rightly that since many of us live our lives so haphazardly, without the fear of God so we should conclude and wake up to the realization that there is no need to fear anything else in life. I admire his honesty and frank answer. His answer tells me that he is on the right track, if he continues seeking the truth, he will find it! I think he is much closer to the truth than many of us. Whereas this man acknowledges the state he is in... I on the other hand often pretend that all is well with me. We need to get in touch with what God has given to each human being, our conscience... in quiet meditation alone, God's small still voice will speak, his words will be heard, he will assure, he will restore faith and he will grant to us strength to live a righteous life.

The fruit of righteousness will be peace;
the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
in secure homes,
in undisturbed places of rest.
Though hail flattens the forest
and the city is leveled completely,
how blessed you will be,
sowing your seed by every stream,
and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.

Isaiah 32:17-20

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